Leadership (Abuja)
2 August 2008
The coordinator of National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) in Niger State, Alhaji Illeyasu Ohaiko, has said that Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta, may have been quoted out of context following an unfavourable remark credited to the senator on the poverty alleviation efforts in the state.
The senator, who is from Niger State, was reported in a national daily (not Leadership) of Thursday, 31st of July, 2008 to have described the poverty alleviation efforts in the state as faulty.
However, in a press statement made available to LEADERSHIP WEEKEND, Alhaji Illeyasu, said, "We want to believe that the distinguished senator may have been quoted out of context because he was physically present when 20 cheques of various sums were presented to twenty cooperative societies at Munya and Tafa local government areas, during the Jama'a Forum."
He further attached details of the cooperatives from zone B in Niger State which benefited from the micro finance so far, stating that the distinguished senator was from the zone.
Moreso, the NAPEP coordinator added that Senator Dahiru was in the entourage of the national coordinator of NAPEP, Dr Magnus Kpakol when he visited an anchor project for shea nut processing at Kodo village in Minna, as well as the official launch of a conditional cash transfer scheme (CCT) at Sesita village in Paikoro local government area also in zone B, of the state.
He, however, added, "We would have allowed sleeping dogs to lie low but for the regards we have for the distinguished Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta and our mandate to service the core grassroots; and for the purpose of putting records straight before the Nigeria reading public, we have had to go this length."
He said that since Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu assumed office, over 1,500 cooperatives have benefited from their services.
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Nigerians want to know what impact NAPEP has made since its inception to reduce the suffering of the common man.